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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Fall Storytime: Penguins

This is the last week of our first fall session of preschool storytime and today we talked about penguins. This is the first time that we've had two fall sessions of storytime (previously we would have done 6-8 weeks straight). So far, I really like it because we had a few sign up who never showed up, so having a second session allows people who are actually interested and available to sign up for the next go-round. Plus, 4 weeks is less of a commitment for people to make than 8 weeks. And... yeah, we'll have to see how it goes with the second session!

So, today. Penguins! This was a very popular theme! Honestly, when Miss T suggested this theme, I wasn't sure she'd be able to find enough books, but she did an awesome job and this was a really fun storytime! Here's what we did:

Opening Song: My Hands Say Hello. This has been a good song for my group because it allows them to participate but it's a little quieter than, say, Shake Your Sillies Out. Since I've got many of the same kids signed up for the next session, I will keep this song.

Memory Box: This week's Memory Box item was a snowflake from the book Penguins, Penguins Everywhere. The little boy who guessed what it was was SO PROUD. :)

Book:The Puzzled Penguin by Keith Faulkner. This pop-up book is a cute story with a funny twist at the end.

Felt Story:Penguins by Liz Pichon. This is a super cute story about penguins who have fun with a lost camera at the zoo. Miss T turned it into a felt story for us and I particularly liked showing everyone the pictures the penguins had taken.

Book:Penguins, Penguins Everywhere by Bob Barner. This is a rhyming book with facts about penguins. It's the perfect level for sharing with preschoolers and early elementary students and there are some great vocabulary words!

Stretch/Rhyme: Everybody had been sitting down for a long time, so we got up and stretched and did the following action rhyme (it's not sung, just spoken!):

I'm a little penguinAren't I cute? (raise arms as if questioning)

I'm a bird
In a penguin suit (flap arms at sides)

My suit has thick feathers,
Black and white (turn around, show off outfit)

I can't flyBut I swim all right (swimming motions)

I can waddle 'roundOn my webbed feet (waddle)

Fresh fish are whatI like to eat! (eating motions)

Rhyme: To get everyone to sit back down, we did "Handy Spandy":

Handy spandy, sugar and candy
We all jump IN!
Handy spandy, sugar and candy
We all jump OUT!
Handy spandy, sugar and candy
We all jump UP!
Handy spandy, sugar and candy
We all SIT DOWN!

Activity: Number penguins. We do colors a lot, but Miss T made number penguins and I passed them out and had the kids bring them up to put on the board as I called their number. The older kids did a great job of helping their younger siblings and helping me tell what number came next.

Closing Song: Do You Know What Time It Is? This is the song that we do with pretty much all our storytimes, from Mother Goose to Toddler Time to Preschool Storytime. I like that it gives our storytimes some continuity as they age up through the programs.

Craft: A... penguin!

Alternate Books: If you don't like or don't have any of the above books, here are some other you might consider: